Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday welcomed the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, praising it as a testament to the “strong leadership of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi said: “We hope the release of hostages and enhanced humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza will bring respite to them and pave the way for lasting peace.”

The Prime Minister’s message came shortly after Trump announced that both sides had agreed to release hostages and prisoners as part of a deal aimed at ending the two-year-long conflict in Gaza. According to the agreement, the exchange of hostages and Palestinian detainees is to take place within 72 hours of implementation, with all living Israeli hostages to be swapped for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that all of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” Trump said on Truth Social.

Trump also praised international mediators, saying: “This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel, all surrounding nations, and the United States of America; and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, who worked with us to make this historic and unprecedented event happen. Blessed are the peacemakers.”

The breakthrough follows indirect talks held in Egypt, coinciding with the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attacks, and comes after intensive diplomatic efforts. Trump sent his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff to mediate, while Israel was represented by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close advisor to Netanyahu.